This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/23/2023
History has a way of uncovering the strangest things. Take for example George Harrison - The Beatles humble guitar player that was told through some reports to be a collector of Nazi and Hitler memorabilia.
It had been suggested as far back as 1989 he had several pictures of Hitler around his home and a few pieces of nazified memorabilia but this he always denied most vehemently. As a matter of fact, when a biography on the Beatles star came out that year and there was a page or two devoted to his interest in Hitler, Harrison raised holy hell to the point of suing Globe magazine for $200 million dollars for reprinting an excerpt from the book which said just about that!
The torrid suit went on for five years and eventually Globe capitulated and settled with the Beatles star. That was it! Harrison was forever reprieved, he had nothing whatsoever to do with Adolf Hitler or Nazi memorabilia! It was all simply a nasty mean-spirited report and, in the end, the truth came out and he was exonerated. That is, until this intriguing document in the form of an innocent greeting card was discovered by a well-known senior Beatles researcher/author. The otherwise routine store-bought birthday card was signed in Harrison's hand and written to his caretaker Steve Schrink on his Hana, Maui estate in Hawaii. In it George has written:
"Fritliche to Steve - Happy [crossed out] Fritliche Gebirstag mein frund [Happy Birthday my friend, in German] from Adolf Schickengruber [Schicklgruber] - George, Olivia and Dhani"
Note: All of the writing and sketch is in George's hand and he even includes his wife and child in the note. The drawing he did of 'Hitler' features a swastika as a necktie. Very strange indeed - but even more so when Harrison drew a caricature that directly references the notorious Nazi Germany Fuhrer. Of particular note, Harrison designates Hitler by his father's born-given family name, Schicklgruber (which he later chose to change to Hitler). This is certainly not to say Harrison was a believer in the Nazi ideal, but perhaps it showcases a certain degree of intrigue that led to the high-profile prior reports being made. Perhaps it was simply a reference to the house caretaker's strict rule over Harrison's Hawaiian manor? One will never truly know, and in this auction offering we simply showcase what has been written and let the prospective bidder come to their own conclusion. Penned entirely in Harrison's hand in a blue ballpoint pen, the card is well preserved and stands in overall fine condition.
Authentication: Roger Epperson (REAL) Letter of Authenticity and a Gotta Have Rock and Roll Certificate of Authenticity.